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Today, Commissioner David W. Purkey of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDSOHS) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Colonel Tracy Trott joined multiple law enforcement partners to announce the fifth annual "I-40 Challenge Drive to Zero Fatalities" traffic safety initiative.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed Angelita Blackshear Dalton of Nashville as Criminal Court Judge for the 20th Judicial District, replacing retiring Judge J. Randall Wyatt. Dalton, 46, has served as Davidson County General Sessions Court Judge for Division III since 2006. In that role she has presided over civil and criminal cases. She was chosen by her peers as presiding judge in 2010 and in 2017. She has also served as co-chair of the Court Operations Committee overseeing implementation of recommendations of the Domestic Violence Safety Assessment commissioned by the Nashville mayor’s office.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced the state will re-issue a $5,000 reward and match for information leading to the apprehension, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the homicide of Lorenzen Wright.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced the participants selected for the 2018 Governor’s Academy for School Leadership (GASL), a one-year fellowship program for assistant principals to increase their leadership capacity. The third annual academy is a unique partnership between the state of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College and local school districts to cultivate and develop future school leaders and improve school effectiveness and student performance.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips today announced that for the fifth month in a row, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is lower than it has been in recorded history. The state unemployment rate for October 2017 held steady at 3.0 percent, matching the historically low rate set in September. Tennessee first marked an all-time low unemployment rate in June at 3.6 percent, which was bested by the July rate of 3.4 percent, and then in August fell to 3.3 percent.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed Brooklynn M. Townsend as special judge for the General Sessions Court of Polk County. Townsend’s appointment fills a temporary vacancy due to the disability of Judge Billy D. Baliles.

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Allegion Americas announced today that the company will expand its Republic Doors & Frames operation in McKenzie. The secure doors and frames manufacturer will invest $4.5 million and create 70 new jobs in Northwest Tennessee over the next five years.

As hurricanes ravaged through the southern United States and Caribbean territories this year, the Tennessee National Guard was there. More than 475 Tennessee National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from across the state supported recovery operations in Florida in September. At the same time, nearly 230 more were supporting the U.S. Virgin Islands.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam today announced the Tennessee Children’s Cabinet is accepting nominations for the 2018 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Early Foundations. These awards were created to recognize collaborative and innovative projects that are helping Tennessee students enter the classroom prepared to learn. “In Tennessee, we believe an education is the pathway to a better future, and that begins with our youngest citizens,” Governor Haslam said. “These awards give us the opportunity to honor the many community agencies and partners across the state who help Tennessee children succeed and start school prepared to learn.”